Letters to the Editor: Parks levy, commissioner race, COVID funds

Support for Mansfield parks levy

Voters in the City of Mansfield have an opportunity to be true partners in the quality of life for ALL members of our community when voting FOR the proposed municipal income tax on or before this coming primary election in May.

This income will provide funding for the next four years to improve and maintain our parks and provide a much needed swim facility in Liberty Park, one of our most historic and strategically positioned assets. For the past several years, families, businesses and groups of citizens have committed countless volunteer hours, individual talents and financial donations in maintaining park facilities and programming as budgets grew increasingly thin, even prior to COVID.

It has been demonstrated that this community understands the importance of providing safe and beautiful outdoor spaces for our families and children; that this investment will even create jobs and is part of each generations responsibility to perpetuate what was provided for each of us by those who came before.

This new tax will affect individuals nominally and will last a mere four years. The return on investment will be lovely green spaces, safe outdoor recreation for community members and guests and an asset for all homeowners in the city of Mansfield. Please, be a community hero at this primary and vote FOR the proposed municipal income tax.

Pam Fleming, Mansfield

Mears is best choice for commissioner

Cliff Mears has served as Richland County commissioner since January 2021. Cliff has experience in both the private and public sectors. In the time he has served, Cliff, together with the other commissioners, has increased Richland County’s credit rating to AA3 — the highest it has ever been.

Cliff Mears has extensive accomplishments while in office, but his main achievements as commissioner are:

1. Partnered with the Ohio Department of Development on the demolition of the old Westinghouse building which has been approved.

2. Chairman of Joint Board of Commissioners for the ditch petition in Shelby which will reduce flooding and put more farmland into production.

3. Approval of a cell tower in Lucas which will improve emergency and cell phone communications in the southern part of the county.

Cliff is an excellent manager who, together with the other commissioners, was able to keep the county building open and working during the pandemic with no loss in customer service.

Cliff takes his duties as county commissioner seriously. Cliff Mears has done an excellent job as commissioner and deserves to be returned to office. Please vote for Cliff Mears on May 3.

Zoi Romanchuk, Ontario

Use COVID funding for new fire station

During the worst part of the recent multi-year COVID emergency situation, emergency financial assistance money supposedly came into Madison Township, Richland County, from various local, state and federal government coffers. One source was said to be CARES Act funding and a second source was said to be the important American Rescue Act funding, with a total of the two sources said to be over $1 million.

The money is said to be still in the township's coffers with no certain encumbered use for it. One use that has been mentioned, and is being lobbied, is building a brand new #1 fire station for Madison East. This idea is supposedly being lobbied by different local factions in the township.

In opposition is an idea supposedly being promoted by Madison Township Trustee Cathy Swank-Green, which is using the money for the installation of in-the-ground storm sewer drains which she said are badly and quickly needed.

This is the same Ms. Green who supposedly supported during the COVID emergency situation and, with the other two Madison Township trustees, sending the township's road department union workers home for three months — and also authorizing them to get their full-time pay during that time. It is still not known if this idea actually became a reality.

I hope the remaining COVID money will be used for the construction of a new Madison Township #1 fire station.

David Spain, Mansfield

This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Letters to the Editor: Parks levy, Cliff Mears, Madison Township